François Gerard de Monteuil

The de Monteuil family was unfortunate enough to be on the border
with Eisen. At one point, the estate was overrun by one of the
princes, and the resulting treaty ceded the land to Eisen when
François was a wee tyke. François is the youngest of
three brothers, so he is a noble without land or title currently. He
grew up as a fencer and courtier in the court of Montaigne. However,
he has little income, and so is currently out and about in the world
trying to make his way. He is ambitious, and pompous, an outrageous
flirt, and very conceited. It's amazing he has survived as long as he
has, but he seems to have the luck of a cat. He is still young and
cocky and arrogant and, like all 22 year-old males, thinks he is
invincible.

Reise Thorsen

Reise Thorsen was born during the harvest festival. The one day
that all in the country, Vendel and Vestemannavnjar alike, celebrate
that harken back to the old days. The days when the country was
united. The days when people respected others, whether they were in
front of them or not. The days when men still respected the gods. The
days before there were Vendel. Reise wasn't born just on that day,
but during the actual celebration of it.

Reise was the proof that Host, the Harvest God, still had power in
the world. The ceremony was done with relics of all the old gods in
place. An old man with the vision of Fornuft had foretold that one
would come that could bring peace between the Vendel and
Vestenmannavnjar. Reise was the one foretold.

Like most prophecies, it is incredibly vague and was interpreted
by different people in different ways. Some think it means he will
lead the Vestenmannavnjar in war to destroy Vendel as Styrke would
have. Others think that he will convince the Vendel to come back to
the old ways as Kyndighet would have. A very few, have other ideas.
What does Reise think? Unsure. All he knows is that if he
concentrates very hard, the old gods will fill him with their spirit
and aid him. He has felt almost all of them at one time or
another.

Reise was a very large and strong child. He grew up working in the
forge. He grew strong there and familiar with the tools of war, and
the tools of the farm. Some people only noticed the weapons of war
that he made, giving hope to the ones that would destroy the Vendel.
Others saw the plows, forks, spades, and hoes and thought he would
understand the harvest, his birth day. That he would have
understanding and see the horror of weapons. He trained with the
battle axe on and off.

Although Reise is but 16 years old, he stronger and larger than
most men. Once full grown he will be a giant among men.

Rudolf "Rudy" Lustigreisen

Rudy's father was a successful blacksmith and Rudy grew up in
front of an anvil. He was never happy sitting still and spent a lot
of time running around with the neighborhood kids when he was
supposed to be working.

Rudy's parents sent him away to one of the finest military
academies to help instill a strong sense of discipline in him, a
trait important to all good Eisens. Rudy managed to pick up the
basics of some military skills, but partied way too hard and
graduated two years late and last in his class.

Rudy loved the sound of the big guns and his tremendous strength
was put to best use in the artillery. He was always well-loved by his
men for his camaraderie and bawdy sense of humor. He was always hated
however by his superior officers for his utter lack of discipline and
open disregard for authority.

Rudy spent twenty years in the artillery and never rose above the
rank of sergeant. He spent many of those years busted down to even
lower ranks. Rudy's unit was decimated during a battle between
Montaigne and Castillian armies during the recent war that left Eisen
the mud-soaked wasteland it is today. The petty king his unit served
was killed and Rudy found himself unemployed.

Rudy then joined the crew of an Avalon merchant ship, where his
skills with the guns allowed him to quickly earn the rank of Gunner's
Mate. Even the relatively lax discipline of a merchantman was chafing
to Rudy and he spent quite a few watches under the cat. After two
years of this, Rudy has left his commission and is looking for a
position as a Master Gunner on any ship that will have him, and
doesn't mind looking the other way during his "occasional
diversions".

Rudy is a huge man, with a booming voice and a commanding
presence. He has incredible physical characteristics and moves his
bulk with unbelievable grace. He is always happy, even under the most
dire of circumstances and believes that everyone is his friend, even
when they're shooting at him.

Rudy's favorite pastimes are eating, wenching, and dancing. He's
most comfortable hanging out in seedy taverns and telling old war
stories. He is good natured and won't permit anybody to suffer,
particular all those stuffed shirts whose collars are too tight.

Rudolpho Padilla -- Two People: One
Soul

[In progress] I have spent many years traveling and
training. Everyday is a new experience; a new challlenge. Who will I
meet? What will I see? Will anyone find out my true identity? Will
today be the day it all ends? Or is today it all begins? Should I
trust those I am currently traveling with?&endash;Each day I open my
eyes I ask myself these questions.

My name is, well, it does not matter. I am of noble Castillian
blood. My parents were well known in the northern part of the
country. As is the custom among many of the nobles, a marriage was
arranged in order to increase influence and power. When I turned
eighteen, I was wed. The arrangement worked as planned until there
was a dispute over who truly owned part of the newly merged
lands.

I lived my early years among the nobility of the Castillian court.
I passed the time dancing and learning the social graces in
preparation for my adult life. Here the sublte nuances of diplomacy
and tact and espionage were practiced. I walked among the adults; I
talked with the adults. I observed who had the power, who had respect
and who knew how achieve both.

I trained in the Castillian ways of the sword. Among the nobility,
knowledge in swordplay is status. So, my parents saw to it that I was
schooled in these arts. I looked forward to honing my skills each
morning when my father and I would spar. It was our time together.
Mother would not interfere. This was the time he and spoke of the
future, and how our family would shape it.

I spent years studying in the Castillian university. It was a
priviledge of my noble status. My mother carefullly guided me to the
proper courses to take about religion, politics, and our country's
history while my father made sure that all my time at the university
was well invested. Contacts were made; friendships were forged. The
pieces were coming together for me.

It was during the time at the university that my marriage was
arranged. One of the scholars there was from a family in the lands
adjacent to ours. Through this common contact, my parents met my
future inlaws. They got to know each other quite well, and it was
decided that an intermingling of our lands would be benificial to
both parties. An agreement was forged. My future spouse and I were to
marry when we completed our university schooling.

I was married two weeks after I finished university. It was a
nice, politically advantageous marriage. I had knowledge and power.
Unfortunately I did not garner respect from some factions of the
family I became a part of . There were some disputes over whether or
not the agreements made where correct. Dissention began to increase.
Soon, it was overwhelming.

One evening on a private ride, tragedy struck. The person who was
part of my politically advantageous partnership had also become the
person I loved. Those eyes, that smile meant everything to me. All of
it was shattered in one moment. An arrow found it's way to my love's
heart. I was taken by force and banished from my lands. Lands I will
take back someday.

I do not know what happened to my parents after that day. I have
not heard anything about them. I want to let them know that I am
alive. I want to let them know that I care about them. I want to tell
what I have become. Perhaps I will try to cross those lands I have
been sent away from. Perhaps I can reach them in person and tell them
what happened that night.

I value my time alone. It is during these moments that I can drop
all facades and be who I am without fear. It is time I have to plan
and scheme the demise of those foul people. I need more in order to
achieve this goal. I will find a way to right the wrong done to me
and my people. It is something I have promised myself.

Siro "Scimmo" Giocatore

Siro was raised on one of the Vodacce islands. His parents were
well known entertainers and were raising him to take his place beside
them, but during his youth Siro only played bit parts being more
interested in running the backstage mechanics of the show and showing
his girlfriend of the week how some of the tricks were done. When he
was sixteen his parents suddenly disappeared. There have been rumors
that because of the biting commentary of the Inquisition that was
sometimes part of the show that Verdugo's minions had them dragged
away and others claim that they are on the run from the local Vodacce
prince because of clever joke they created about his wife.

Siro's uncle was a sailor in the Vodacce navy and convinced him
that the sailor life was the way to get out of the dangerous
entertainment business and to help forget whatever happened to his
parents. Siro never talks about the disappearance or what he thinks
happened to his parents. As a sailor for five years Siro has seen
quite a few of the seaports of Theah (and the women at each) and has
managed to pick up most of the major languages. Fellow sailors are
always amused of the number of women he seems to fall in love with
and are not surprised when he tells them that he needs to get out of
town quickly.

After the first year on the same ship with his uncle, Siro has
spent most of his time shifting to different ships to see more of the
world (and women) and to stay away from Vodacce (and women's
husbands) as much as possible. He has been a topsman for all of his
sailing career and would most likely be promoted to Master of the
Tops if he ever stayed on a single ship for long enough. His nickname
of "monkey" comes from his skill of scampering over the rigging and
the ability to drop to the deck without hurting himself.

Siro does have a secret past which can be read here
for those who just have to know.